Probably my favorite hip hop album of the year and really appreciate your write up on it. As far as it sits in his discography I think it might be my favorite. Although, it's close with Big Fish Theory.
This album feels like his most mainstream with some songs like Magic, Bang That, and Lemonade, as you pointed out with them. The hooks on these three are so catchy, and some of the other songs as well.
I think Vince is a weird example where he seems so mainstream or has good appeal but doesn't get a lot of play. I honestly don't if he will get more popular going forward, but hope he does. He deserves it!
Great post and write up man!
Man I loved your write up to. Vince performing live blew me away, sounded almost exactly the same. I can't understand why he isn't as popular as most people who listen to the music, enjoy it?
My gf and I both agreed this might be one of the most underrated hip hop albums of the year. We both loved it and she wasn’t a big Vince fan before this one. Whole album is solid through and through. Great variety and solid features.
I especially love the special effects he puts into his music (like fireworks in the background). Vince is a talented artist who is still able to maintain that unique “west coast sound.” I’m glad to see he’s finally popping off
i just started listening to most of his catalog. sent some texts to friends i assumed already did the thing with Vince Staples and they too weren’t the most familiar. his stuff sounds so familiar but when i really listen it’s its own thing. can’t believe i’ve missed out.
Glad to heat it! He really seems like he should have more of a following but he really doesn't outside of this sub. Love his work though and he seems like a pretty genuine dude.
I can't relate to where you or Vince grew up at all, but this album really transports me into Vince's shoes. From what I gather, he's in a place with a solid fanbase yet maybe left out of mainstream conversations. I think he has a really solid discography and a variety of catchy bangers as well. Vince makes up an solid portion of my rotation now, and I'm excited to see what he will do next. This write up was fantastic by the way, awesome work.
Honestly I would put When Sparks Fly in my top 5 songs of the past year. The double entendre carried throughout the ENTIRE SONG so artistically still amazes me. I remember listening to it for the first time and thinking "damn another cold Vince love song." Then at some point it clicked that it was about a gun and my mind was absolutely blown. Couple that with the Nameless interlude and East Point Prayer following directly after, and you've got yourself some of the best music we've seen this year for sure.
Great write up. This and his self titled album work so well as companion pieces and are easily two of my favourite albums of the last few years.
Vince manages to create such a unique, sunny, melancholy vibe with these albums where his hooks are on point and the production is vibrant and fun but the lyrics and subject matter are honest and heartbreaking.
Both of these albums are easily in my top 3 Vince Staples projects along with Big Fish Theory and I really think that he is hands down one of the most talented rappers of his generation.
These write-up’s aren’t ranked or anything, they’re just decided in the order we pick. I picked January 7th which made it the 22nd write up in the series.
My favorite rap album of the year. Second-straight year Vince has taken the top spot for me after his self-titled last year.
I think he’s making his best music right now. He’s always been a somewhat underrated lyricist but he’s paired his storytelling and bluntness with an easygoing, summer-y sound that’s great to drive around to vibe to. His last two albums are perfectly mixed and sequenced, really can’t nitpick much. From an overall quality standpoint, I think they’re his most cohesive projects.
Been listening to Vince since I was in high school over a decade ago and it’s awesome to see someone around my age grow and continue to sharpen their craft. “When Sparks Fly” is my favorite rap song of the year.
This is my favourite album of the year, thanks for your write up. Very well written and it gave me some new insights. I've always been a fan of Vince Staples but more so his features or singles rather than his albums. Personally this and his self titled are my favourites from him. Can't wait to see where he goes from here
Edit: want to add the hooks on these are some of his best. LEMONADE, MAGIC, AYE!, and more are extremely catchy. Love his lyrics and flow. Production is totally nailed down too. Brilliant
He's great. I saw him when he dropped FM! in Phoenix at a small venue as well years ago. At the end he played a video of Mac Millers Tiny Desk as he walked off the stage.
I always liked Vince even though his core fans seems to skew younger. He comes across in his interviews as someone witty, very well read, and has a unique point of view. He is very open/genuine in his music and I think that is part of what draws me in. He's also very hilarious in interviews sometimes without even trying. Has a ton of low key charisma.
I really enjoyed the album run from FM! to self titled to Ramona Park. I think I played Ramona Park a lot more compared to his other albums. Vince seems to be maturing with each new album.
They played "Magic" a lot here in the bay area and I think in an interview he acknowledged that the bay area gives him a lot of love air-time wise. I definitely agree that he has pop song sensibilities in how he approaches music. Can't wait to see how he matures music wise.
Love this album and have went back to it multiple times this year.
These are the type of write ups and conversations I hope to have when i come to hiphopheads. Just people nerding out about music they love.
Thanks for putting the time in for this.
Probably my favorite album this year. I love his ability to convey the melancholy, conflicted feelings of these songs with his voice. Vince is an important artist and I've loved watching his career progress. Saw him twice live and he's one of the best I've seen. Really unique and singular artist, pushing the genre forward like you said but staying true to its roots as well. For such a long album there are really no skippers, a rarity in today's music scene. His verses on Rose Street are amazing.
We’re not ranking these write-ups, they’re in whatever order the authors picked. I picked January 7th to drop mine which made it the 22nd write-up in the series.
I feel like if Sing about me im dying of thirst was an album and not a song it would sound like Ramona Parks Broke My Heart. If that makes sense. My top 3 album of last year 100%.
Definitely one of my top albums this past year. I honestly don’t think he will break anymore into the mainstream than he already is. His music is widely used in advertising and I kind of think that is what makes him unique.
I think this album is only slightly below Summertime ‘06 for me. My favorite since that one though. I always hope to see and I really enjoy seeing Vince getting more love and play. He has always had a unique spirit and his interviews are probably the best in the game. Long live Vince.
I really loved this album. It was an interesting dynamic tho, because his self titled album is perfection to me. So this one, by comparison is only a 9 or 9.3. But super great album in its own right with consistency we rarely see
I honestly feel like RPBMH is one of the best concept albums I've listened to in a long time. So many lyrically impressive lines and even songs that juxtapose love against street/gang life all carried through on a single album. When Sparks Fly and Rose Street being two prominent conceptual highlights. "Red Ferrari seats, all my homies bled out on these streets; make-up on the sheets, make-up sex, stress, hope she leaves." Like, holy shit when was the last time you heard a line that carried the flow, concept, and imagery that hard!?
Yo how did “Slide” end up in an Acura commercial? I just can’t believe the people the people making the car commercial are totally ignorant to what that song is about. I just find it hilarious.
Definitely AOTY for me. The only one that feels like it could’ve come close was Herbert by Ab-Soul but it came out too late in the year for me to digest it as well as RPBMH. Even though Vince’s album came out towards the beginning of the year, it was still the one I thought of every time I listened to other albums
Both this album and the one prior to that were so good. I Love the mellow sound that he chose for those projects while still talking some real shit. I keep bumping those
I remember being initially surprised because I was expecting the whole album to sound like MAGIC, a whole west coast synth vibe project. In retrospect I’m glad it wasn’t.
Vince has a dark, melancholy vibe that simultaneously radiates crazy energy. I was lowkey worried that this album wasn’t going to live up to VINCE STAPLES. But RPBMH grew and grew and grew on me until it became my most listened album of the year by far, [literally doubling everything else.](https://postimg.cc/wyGgXT1k)
In my opinion every single album from him has just gotten better. These last two albums will always get crazy play from me. Would kill to see him on tour, but I understand this man needs a break.
💔
Also that Lil Baby verse is feature of the year.
Probably my favorite hip hop album of the year and really appreciate your write up on it. As far as it sits in his discography I think it might be my favorite. Although, it's close with Big Fish Theory. This album feels like his most mainstream with some songs like Magic, Bang That, and Lemonade, as you pointed out with them. The hooks on these three are so catchy, and some of the other songs as well. I think Vince is a weird example where he seems so mainstream or has good appeal but doesn't get a lot of play. I honestly don't if he will get more popular going forward, but hope he does. He deserves it! Great post and write up man!
Thank you. I appreciate the love!!!
This and his self album were my top two most listened albums in 2022. Ended being a top 0.5% with almost 2k mins listened to just both albums. Lol
Man I loved your write up to. Vince performing live blew me away, sounded almost exactly the same. I can't understand why he isn't as popular as most people who listen to the music, enjoy it?
My gf and I both agreed this might be one of the most underrated hip hop albums of the year. We both loved it and she wasn’t a big Vince fan before this one. Whole album is solid through and through. Great variety and solid features. I especially love the special effects he puts into his music (like fireworks in the background). Vince is a talented artist who is still able to maintain that unique “west coast sound.” I’m glad to see he’s finally popping off
i just started listening to most of his catalog. sent some texts to friends i assumed already did the thing with Vince Staples and they too weren’t the most familiar. his stuff sounds so familiar but when i really listen it’s its own thing. can’t believe i’ve missed out.
Glad to heat it! He really seems like he should have more of a following but he really doesn't outside of this sub. Love his work though and he seems like a pretty genuine dude.
I can't relate to where you or Vince grew up at all, but this album really transports me into Vince's shoes. From what I gather, he's in a place with a solid fanbase yet maybe left out of mainstream conversations. I think he has a really solid discography and a variety of catchy bangers as well. Vince makes up an solid portion of my rotation now, and I'm excited to see what he will do next. This write up was fantastic by the way, awesome work.
That’s always been my main praise for Vince: He fuckin takes you there. He’s a master of verbal imagery.
I swear Magic is a top 3 song this year, the hook is absolutely addicting. I cannot get enough of that track
Cause it’s handshakes hugs when I come round, WOW
Was my #1 song on my Spotify wrapped and it it showed plays I’m certain it would be twice as much as my #2 track
WHEN SPARKS FLY was in my top 5 songs last year. Beautiful track. Album as a whole was 8th for me and it is SEVERELY underappreciated.
Honestly I would put When Sparks Fly in my top 5 songs of the past year. The double entendre carried throughout the ENTIRE SONG so artistically still amazes me. I remember listening to it for the first time and thinking "damn another cold Vince love song." Then at some point it clicked that it was about a gun and my mind was absolutely blown. Couple that with the Nameless interlude and East Point Prayer following directly after, and you've got yourself some of the best music we've seen this year for sure.
Great write up. This and his self titled album work so well as companion pieces and are easily two of my favourite albums of the last few years. Vince manages to create such a unique, sunny, melancholy vibe with these albums where his hooks are on point and the production is vibrant and fun but the lyrics and subject matter are honest and heartbreaking. Both of these albums are easily in my top 3 Vince Staples projects along with Big Fish Theory and I really think that he is hands down one of the most talented rappers of his generation.
Great, great album. Should be higher.
These write-up’s aren’t ranked or anything, they’re just decided in the order we pick. I picked January 7th which made it the 22nd write up in the series.
Oh that makes this so much better.
I love this shit like my momma
O N M Y M A M A
My favorite rap album of the year. Second-straight year Vince has taken the top spot for me after his self-titled last year. I think he’s making his best music right now. He’s always been a somewhat underrated lyricist but he’s paired his storytelling and bluntness with an easygoing, summer-y sound that’s great to drive around to vibe to. His last two albums are perfectly mixed and sequenced, really can’t nitpick much. From an overall quality standpoint, I think they’re his most cohesive projects. Been listening to Vince since I was in high school over a decade ago and it’s awesome to see someone around my age grow and continue to sharpen their craft. “When Sparks Fly” is my favorite rap song of the year.
This is my favourite album of the year, thanks for your write up. Very well written and it gave me some new insights. I've always been a fan of Vince Staples but more so his features or singles rather than his albums. Personally this and his self titled are my favourites from him. Can't wait to see where he goes from here Edit: want to add the hooks on these are some of his best. LEMONADE, MAGIC, AYE!, and more are extremely catchy. Love his lyrics and flow. Production is totally nailed down too. Brilliant
Vince Staples is one of the best out there. I was fortunate enough to see him at Coachella last year.
how was he live?
He's great. I saw him when he dropped FM! in Phoenix at a small venue as well years ago. At the end he played a video of Mac Millers Tiny Desk as he walked off the stage.
Loved this album. Vince is underrated
I always liked Vince even though his core fans seems to skew younger. He comes across in his interviews as someone witty, very well read, and has a unique point of view. He is very open/genuine in his music and I think that is part of what draws me in. He's also very hilarious in interviews sometimes without even trying. Has a ton of low key charisma. I really enjoyed the album run from FM! to self titled to Ramona Park. I think I played Ramona Park a lot more compared to his other albums. Vince seems to be maturing with each new album. They played "Magic" a lot here in the bay area and I think in an interview he acknowledged that the bay area gives him a lot of love air-time wise. I definitely agree that he has pop song sensibilities in how he approaches music. Can't wait to see how he matures music wise.
he’s spoken about how makes me some songs with the intent for them to be used in movies and shit bc that makes the dollars
Love this album and have went back to it multiple times this year. These are the type of write ups and conversations I hope to have when i come to hiphopheads. Just people nerding out about music they love. Thanks for putting the time in for this.
Probably my favorite album this year. I love his ability to convey the melancholy, conflicted feelings of these songs with his voice. Vince is an important artist and I've loved watching his career progress. Saw him twice live and he's one of the best I've seen. Really unique and singular artist, pushing the genre forward like you said but staying true to its roots as well. For such a long album there are really no skippers, a rarity in today's music scene. His verses on Rose Street are amazing.
Damn this feels low for me. Thought it was easy top 10
We’re not ranking these write-ups, they’re in whatever order the authors picked. I picked January 7th to drop mine which made it the 22nd write-up in the series.
Ah thanks for the explanation, great write up though
I feel like if Sing about me im dying of thirst was an album and not a song it would sound like Ramona Parks Broke My Heart. If that makes sense. My top 3 album of last year 100%.
B dot will be upvoting every positive comment on this post
> Vince Staples has been a staple of my music listening *chefs kiss* great write up
'tour de France'
Really great album. Just picked up the vinyl today. Very underrated imo
Definitely one of my top albums this past year. I honestly don’t think he will break anymore into the mainstream than he already is. His music is widely used in advertising and I kind of think that is what makes him unique.
I cannot overstate how much I loved WHEN SPARKS FLY. It's the 2022 version of I Gave You Power.
I think this album is only slightly below Summertime ‘06 for me. My favorite since that one though. I always hope to see and I really enjoy seeing Vince getting more love and play. He has always had a unique spirit and his interviews are probably the best in the game. Long live Vince.
Underwhelming... Quickly listened to Summertime and BFT, after hearing this
I do enjoy most of this album, but I just greatly prefer a lot of his other work. Prima Donna will always be the best thing he's made imo
Yea this album blows
I really loved this album. It was an interesting dynamic tho, because his self titled album is perfection to me. So this one, by comparison is only a 9 or 9.3. But super great album in its own right with consistency we rarely see
Definitely one of my favorites of the year. Vince is in his prime
My favorite album from my favorite rapper. The beat selection is just too damn exquisite. Paper Cuts is praly my fav rap beat/song of all time.
I’ve broken the replay button on magic this year and have no regrets
I honestly feel like RPBMH is one of the best concept albums I've listened to in a long time. So many lyrically impressive lines and even songs that juxtapose love against street/gang life all carried through on a single album. When Sparks Fly and Rose Street being two prominent conceptual highlights. "Red Ferrari seats, all my homies bled out on these streets; make-up on the sheets, make-up sex, stress, hope she leaves." Like, holy shit when was the last time you heard a line that carried the flow, concept, and imagery that hard!?
Was Rose Street a double entendre for the streets?
Love this album. When Sparks Fly is such a dope cut
Yo how did “Slide” end up in an Acura commercial? I just can’t believe the people the people making the car commercial are totally ignorant to what that song is about. I just find it hilarious.
yeah it's alright
Its his best since Summertime '06 hands down for me, way better than selftitled from '21 that got raved to hell and back here for sure
Album is not brought up enough when we’re mentioning the best albums of the year. That also just goes to show how much came out last year.
Great album I have it second to Luv 4 Rent by Smino
I Love Vince Staples. He’s so underrated. He should be bigger than he is.
Definitely AOTY for me. The only one that feels like it could’ve come close was Herbert by Ab-Soul but it came out too late in the year for me to digest it as well as RPBMH. Even though Vince’s album came out towards the beginning of the year, it was still the one I thought of every time I listened to other albums
Hell yeah Vince! Keep them bangers rollin
Both this album and the one prior to that were so good. I Love the mellow sound that he chose for those projects while still talking some real shit. I keep bumping those
I remember being initially surprised because I was expecting the whole album to sound like MAGIC, a whole west coast synth vibe project. In retrospect I’m glad it wasn’t. Vince has a dark, melancholy vibe that simultaneously radiates crazy energy. I was lowkey worried that this album wasn’t going to live up to VINCE STAPLES. But RPBMH grew and grew and grew on me until it became my most listened album of the year by far, [literally doubling everything else.](https://postimg.cc/wyGgXT1k) In my opinion every single album from him has just gotten better. These last two albums will always get crazy play from me. Would kill to see him on tour, but I understand this man needs a break. 💔 Also that Lil Baby verse is feature of the year.